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P. O. Box 407, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean, Phone 786-6518, 786-6125, www.bonairereporter.com email: [email protected] Since 1994 veryone Elected officials, at both the is- TableThis Week’s of Contents Stories E who is a land and national level, under pressure legal resident of from disgruntled citizens influenced Tax Cuts 2 Bonaire became government officials to lower taxes in Excitement on Bonaire Day 3 Coalition Government Collapses 3 entitled to gov- the BES Islands and improve public Concerns about Bonaire Local ernment sup- relations.. ported medical Governance 3 care when Holland integrated the BES is- The general sales tax (ABB) on all ser- Dengue Fever Spreading 6 lands into its political structure last year. vices in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba MCB Hosts Another Press Appre- For the most part the transition from SVB will be reduced by 2% on January 1, ciation Day 7 Foundation Bon Kosa 7 management went smoothly but there were 2012. The import tax on cars in St. Bonaire Runner In China 7 some significant problems, especially when Eustatius and Saba will be reduced. In- U.S. Consulate General off-island treatment and specialists were re- stead of having to pay 25% import duty, Announces New Appointment quired… even if it was just to Curaçao. Now people buying cars on these islands now System 7 the Dutch Government says it has managed will have to pay 18% on the first $20,000 Tough Times In Lora Land 8 to remove the major bottlenecks. of value increasing to 30% for vehicles worth more than $30,000. Several other tax re- Shining Slave Huts 8 In his letter to the Second Chamber two lief measures for the islands will go into effect on October 1 this year. Overall taxes Painting For Sale 8 weeks ago, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs will be reduced by $6 million. Other cuts are being discussed. Classical Music Board Marks Two Years of Musical Presentations on and Kingdom Relations Piet Hein Donner On October 1, the tax-free sum and the allowance for children and the elderly all will tried to assure Parliament that all was well Bonaire 9 be increased by five per cent. The 5% increase for children and the elderly will be Warehouse Bonaire Success 16 when it came to BES Island residents’ medi- added to the 5.9% inflation indexing. cal and health. Patients interviewed by The Reporter are taking a wait and see attitude. Furthermore, the elderly deduction in income and wage tax assessment will be in- Departments creased from $200 to $1,200. Pension premiums paid by the elderly will be marked as Flotsam & Jetsam 2 Donner: “The helicopter for Saba is now negative income in their tax assessment. Born On Bonaire (Delno Tromp) 4 operational for night flights, agreements were Body Talk-When Breathing Is Impossible6 made on the payment for medical referrals According to preliminary indications, the ABB tax and excises on the three islands for Bon Quiz #60 (Town Pier) 6 abroad, contracts were sealed with large this year have yielded an additional $10 million. The new fiscal regime that went into Classifieds 10 health care institutions in the region and the effect on January 1 this year should yield a total tax revenue of $52 million for the three Tide Table, Sunrise & Sunset Times, privatization of local health care institutions islands per year, but it turned out to be more. Moon Phase 10 was completed. Bonaire Real Estate Reflections– Can I Get a Mortgage on Bonaire? 11 Residents of Bonaire are being referred to One year ago the Judicial Institution opportunity to study and to prepare them- Picture Yourself (Old Faithful, USA) 11 hospitals in Aruba and Curaçao. More serious Dutch Caribbean (Justitiële Inrichting selves to get a diploma in collaboration be- Latin Music Classics –Cumbia 11 medical specialist care already has been ar- Caribisch Nederland - JICN) began setting tween JICN and the OCW, SGB and Bubbles From The Biologist- ranged in Colombia. The start-up problems up a department especially for imprisoned FORMA. DYK -Chemoreception 12 should gradually become a thing of the past,” Shopping & Dining Guides 12 youngsters and he added. In Colombia, patients are seen by young adults up to Sudoku Puzzle & solution 12 The Bonaire Masthead 13 Spanish and English-speaking specialists and the age of 24. The Government What’s Happening? 13 personnel where possible. first step was to recently signed Bon Quiz Answer 14 accommodate the an agreement Pet of the Week –Oriana 14 youngsters in a The 22 convicts from Bonaire who are with developer Bonaire On Wheels -1954 Packard 14 small separate part Sky Park (Call AAA for Star Service 15 locked-up at Curaçao’s Bon Futuro prison Terramar for a of the House of De- The Stars Have It 15 will be transferred either back to their is- commercial tention staffed with land or to the Netherlands. The Hague is complex on the experts from the How to contact us responsible for the detainees from Bonaire location of the former Salsa bar/restaurant. Netherlands and the Letters to the Editor: now that the island is part of the Netherlands. It will consist of a covered gallery with stores existing staff the Wall at the Bonaire [email protected] It had been determined that at the time of their and eateries on the ground floor, while the Story tip or idea: department The Prison. RCN photo sentencing the 22 could not serve their jail first and second floors are reserved for apart- [email protected] facility will offer a time in Bonaire safely. ments catering to tourists. The historic build- The Publisher: stable, safe and balanced environment with a [email protected] Seventeen prisoners will be transferred ing “Kas di van der Dijs” (that housed a music specially created day program focusing on starting immediately to the prison in Bonaire school) will be incorporated into the project Box 407, Bonaire, education and guidance. in phases. The five remaining more dangerous and restored for a public function. It involves Dutch Caribbean Phone 786-6125 criminals will be temporarily transferred to The kick off for involving parents was last the site of the demolished old Hellmund house July 30th. All the parents and guardians were Phone 786-6518. the Netherlands because their safety cannot be on Kralendijk Bay and the plots behind it. guaranteed in Bonaire. They will be trans- invited by the personnel after consultation Available on-line at: ferred back to Bonaire as soon as the new with the youngsters in the department inside WILLEMSTAD--Abby Hogan (50), the www.bonairereporter.com prison on the island is completed. All 22 will the JICN. Parents/guardians or family of wife of the missing US vice consul James Printed Every Fortnight, be transferred before December 22 this year. every youngster were present. The personnel Hogan, has been accused in the US of seven On-line Every day, 24/7 together with the youngsters organized the One of the prisoners who will go to the counts of obstructing the investigation into Next edition printing on day. Education is now available in the young- Netherlands is Ryan P. who was sentenced to her husband’s disappearance while in Cura- September 27, 2011 sters’ department of the JICN. This is a tre- a jail term of 30 years in 2009 for murdering (Continued on page 10) Story and Ad deadline: the Dutch trainee Marlies van der Kouwe. mendous step forward. Youngsters have the Friday, September 23 2011 Featuring Giant, Bikkel and Golden Lion bikes Parts and accessories for all brands of bikes and scooters Beautiful Bike Clothes All type of house and car keys dupli- cated Kaya Grandi #61 •Transport of Money •Vehicle patrols “The blue building” Call 717-8545 and Valuables •Burglar Alarms In Business Over 28 years Open: 8:30-12:30, 2:00-5:30 •Private Investigations •Fire Alarm Systems Owner Operated Kaya Nikiboko Nord 37A, PO Box 225 Tel: (599) 717- 8125 Web: www.bonairefreewieler.com Fax (599) 717- 6125 E-mail [email protected] Email: [email protected] Page 2 Bonaire Reporter- September 16-30, 2011 onaire Day Marked Island Coalition B by Demonstrations Government Collapses There was more than the usual excite- ment during Bonaire Day, September 6, he present island Red (PDB, White because about 150 Bonaireans staged a T (PJU) and Blue (MBL) coalition “Manifestation” (Demonstration) to commissioners will most likely be re- emphasize their dissatisfaction with the placed on September 12 when the Island course the island has taken since inte- Council meets. The commissioners who gration with The Netherlands last Octo- form the new government will come from ber. The demonstrators were orderly the Green (UPB) and White (PHU) parties. and given time on the platform during The short-lived coalition broke apart the official program to express the is- when the PHU member of the Island sues they had. The signs they held Council, Rafael Santana, broke with his might have been crude by some stan- party, founded last year, by Commissioner dard, but the feelings they expressed Michiel Bijkerk over a payment intended Three were loud and clear. to supplement his councilman salary. He scenes kept his council seat and decided to side from Following the formal program the with the four UPB council members to get the bario of North Salinja came alive with a 5 to 4 majority on the Island Council. Demon- people enjoying the warm sunshine, the At press time the new commissioners stration food, drinks and music which lasted have not been named. G.D. well into the evening.